Continue the LOVE Throughout The Year

We're having a Merry Christmas and want to extend the happiness and goodwill throughout the year! Is that possible? We know we can do this by sharing the Love that we feel each and every day of the new year. Our scheme is to sponsor a child through Save the Children. We browsed through the Save the Children Chrismas catalog
and decided to sponsor a child for one year! So we can share the Love for one whole year in this way. We have chosen to "educate a girl for a year". This gift will provide needed books, teacher's training and educational materials for the span of one year. Educating a girl child through Save the Children is significant because an educated girl will postpone marriage and childbearing. They will often provide better nutrition and education for their own children. Maybe you would like to share other ways to extend the spirit of this season.

The Messiah. . .

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace...
Isaiah 9:6
On Christmas Eve we rejouce because we know the reason for the season. It is wonderful to celebrate the holiday with understanding. The Messiah arrived just as it had been promised. He was born to save and redeem our lives because of love. We must share that love throughout the entire year, not just during this season. Let's perprtuate the feelings and actions of love each day of the new year.

Thrift Shop Treasure

This nativity grouping was purchased at 50% off of the extravagant price of $5.00!
The pieces are ceramic with fired colors.

Mexican Nativity

This nacimiento grouping, (as the narivity scene is called in some latin countries), shares respite moments under the shade of the crimson Mexican poinsetta. These pieces are of fired clay. Hand-painted in white and trimmed delicately with cold paint.

Tagged by Jeannette re: Authors

Two all-time favorite authors are 1.) Emilie Barnes, who I knew years ago before she started to write. She was involved at that time with Women's ministries and Feminars. I like her work because it encourages the Christian woman in being creative as well as being spiritual leaders in and out of the home. Another favorite is 2.) Wayne Dyer, A religion-oriented psychologist. I've admired him and read his books since the 1980s. He gives level-headed advice that is useful in day to day life.

My first favorite author was the author of the Pippi Longstocking series, Swedish author Astrid Lindgren.

Is she still one of my favorites authors? I can't say that I still read her works, however, I can still watch a Pippi Longstocking movie!

A new favorite is Matthew Kenny co-author of "Raw Food Real World". A New York 5-star master chef tells how to prepare raw gourmet meals. Yummy!

Being a novice blogger, I will tagg only two other people. OK?

AND THE WINNER IS...!

KATHERINE of Yellow Rose Arbor! Congratulations Katherine! Michelle, the lovely angel, will be winging her way to your home via Priority Mail. Yes its hard to part with her as I sometimes bond with inanimate objects, but there's no greater joy then sharing for this Christmas baby. (I've been told I have a Santa's complex-but I can live with that!)

Special thanks to all who entered and shared personal angel stories. We treasure what you have shared. Thank you for entering our first giveaway and adding to our joy this season.

Venezuelan Trio

The Venezuelan artist rendered this wonderful trio of fired clay. After adding lovely shades of blue and gold, each character was carefully positioned on a black base of fired clay. Another timely gift we are proud to share.

ANGEL GIVEAWAY FINAL DAY!

This lovely angel, Michelle, is waiting to wing her way to your home. Entries will continue to be taken until midnight tonight when the dawing will be held. Just tell us your favorite angel story or just make a statement about angels right here on this comment spot. Good luck!

Mother -of-Pearl Custom Ceramic

This set is a treasured gift from my mother. Given to our family about fourteen years ago. It is such fun to unwrap the pieces each year. I especially like the three camels. Notice how the angel has alighted from the roof of the stable to take a place beside the Babe.

Heather Goldminc Trio

This set can only be described as stunning!
The two piece set depicts Mary holding her Babe and Joseph observing nearby. The set was created by the artist Heather Goldminc for Bluesky Clayworks in Canada. The set sports a rich and colorful irridescent glaze. They are displayed under our Christmas cactus that is blooming right on time!

Mini Fired Clay

This charming little set was found in a department store at an irresistable sale price. A welcome addition our collection. All pieces are affixed in place within the stable.

Children's Christmas Pageant

This set reminds me of the many pageants in which I've both participated and attended. Sweet memories of back-stage disorder and commotion and on stage "perfection". Perfect only because a Chrismas pageant audiance is so enchanted and forgiving.

A GIVEAWAY at PRINCE OF PEACE

We at PRINCE OF PEACE are very happy to announce a drawing that will be held on December 17, 2008. That's one week from today! The beautiful angel pictured here will wing her way to the winner before Christmas Day! Wouldn't you want to add her to your collections? Join us for the fun! To participate, simply tell us your views on angels or share an angel story. Use the 'comment' spot on this posting. Tell us your name and contact information. Your entry may be brief or a short story, as you wish. Just have fun as we are with this blog! By the way, her name is Michelle, and her measurments-converted from angel meters are: 11 inches tall and 7 inches wing tip-to-wing tip.

Scripture Nativity Set

This one is new to the collection this year. It was a gift to me from my husband Michael. He and I never tire of "The Story" and are intrigued with this set. All pieces are of fired clay and then painted and given a nice glaze, including the stable. The stable as well as each character has a Bible text pertaining to the birth of Jesus. Baby Jesus who is removable from the manger does not have a text written on him. I hope you are as delighted with this one as we are! (In my excitment at placing the characters so that you would be able to read some of the texts, I placed Joseph and Mary on opposite ends of the photo. Needless to say, on our display table, The Trio are together once again.)

Regal Glazed Ceramic

The artist did a splendid job in creating life-like facial expressions. We hope the photos will reveal this.

Mikasa- White and Gold Porcelain

The Mikasa Trio rendered in simple modern lines and etched in gold. We feel fortunate to be able to share yet another gift. See the poem 'My Baby Boy' in the side column, written just today, inspired by this wondrous season.

Twin sets-Glazed Ceramic

This set is one of the larger groupings in our collection. We decided to get two sets and grouped most of the characters together. The hand painted pieces are so dissimilar we were able to place twin pieces side by side without it seeming repetitious. So there are two shepherds, two lambs and so forth.

Trio- Sculpted Paper

Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus have painted features. Mary and Joseph are each attached to polished wooden bases. The robes are "sculpted" of heavy treated paper. Mary is holding her new Baby-no manger in this scene. This set was a gift to our family that is much treasured.

The Little Fountain

This delightful composition is made even more attractive by the splashing water that travels up and about the nativity scene and then cascades into the base of the fountain. It is created of molded resin and carefully hand-painted with brilliant colors. (Yes, it is battery operated.)

Jeweled White Ceramic

The jeweled set is one of our favorites. It is created of fired clay which has a powder-like finish. Many characters have colorful rhinestones attached to charm us with their sparkle. Notice how the cow has eyes for the camera only!

Wood-grain Molded Resin

This set has many characters that barely fit into the stable. The wood-like finish gives each individual character a unique eye-catching patina.

Lladro of Spain - Porcelain

The first set we are sharing is a porcelain portrayal of Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph delicately rendered by Lladro of Spain. We purchased it at a jewelry store in Florida. Happily we were able to take it out of the store's layaway in time to have a member of the Lladro family graciously sign each piece. (Mr. Lladro was visiting the U.S. on a promotional tour).

Introducing Our New Blog

We are a mother and son team who share some wonderful things. First we share our love for the Babe who is our Savior, the Prince of Peace. Also we share our love for the Christmas story and surprisingly, we share our birthday, December 25th! On our blog we would like to share some of our favorite nativity sets/scenes that our family has acquired over many years.

Today, to help us get acquainted, we will share a story that I sent to one of our local newspapers a few years ago. This was in response to the newspapers call for "Holiday Memories". I could not resist the chance to share our special story.

OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS TOGETHER

Holidays are necessary! I come from a very holiday oriented family who made me feel very, very special because I was born on Christmas Day. In 1976, the bicentennial year, my husband and I were excited to learn that I was to have a bicentennial baby! But wait, the due date was December 25th! Could we do it? I'm very stubborn and hopeful so we picked names related to the Chrismas season.

I was overjoyed when my labor started at 5 o'clock Christmas morning. We had opened our gifts the night before just in case- this tradition has endured the years. In the delivery room, after a long day , I finally said, "Doctor, are we having a Christmas baby or not? When he smiled and responded with, "it's up to you", my stubborness, my hopefulness, my joy kicked in and the best little Christmas present I ever had was born that evening at 11:45 P.M. We did it!